A recent analysis of traffic and safety data published by NerdWallet named Worcester, Massachusetts the tenth worst city for drivers in the nation. This comes as no surprise, given that a report published by AllState in 2014 ranked Worcester as the most dangerous city of all!
However, just as we disputed the idea that Worcester is the most dangerous city for drivers in the nation, we dispute this report that ranks Worcester at number 10. But before we explain further, let’s talk about what the report actually said:
What the NerdWallet Driving Report Stated
To determine the safety level of a given city, this analysis evaluated the average number of years between car accidents for each driver, the city’s average auto insurance premium, the number of fatal accidents for every 100,000 residents, the accident likelihood relative to the national average, the risk of motor vehicle theft and the auto larceny risk. All of these factors combined determined the city’s level of risk for drivers.
- The average cost of insurance in Worcester was $1396.83.
- The average number of years between car accidents for individual drivers was 4.5.
- The accident likelihood was 120.7 percent higher than the national average.
- The number of fatal accidents per 100,000 residents was 4.4.
- Both the auto larceny risk and the risk of motor vehicle were assessed as “least safe.”
But is it really that dangerous?
Although these statistics may sound bad at first, we can learn a lot more about the relative risks in Worcester if we dig a little deeper. For example, even though the number of accidents in Worcester is higher than in other cities, the severity of the accidents is lower. Worcester drivers are more likely to get into minor accidents with minimal damage, as opposed to accidents that cause severe injury or destroy the driver’s vehicle completely. In addition, other statistics indicate that the level of danger in Worcester isn’t as high as NerdWallet would lead you to believe. Specifically:
- In 2014, Massachusetts experienced only 0.57 fatalities for every 100 million miles driven. This is the lowest value for all states.
- Other counties in Massachusetts have more fatalities than Worcester County. In 2014, for example, Worcester County experienced fewer fatalities than Plymouth County, even though Plymouth County has fewer residents.
Safe Driving is Essential
Even if NerdWallet is wrong about the level of danger in the city of Worcester, drivers are still encouraged to be cautious. An accident can occur at any time, especially if you are driving with distractions, under the influence of drugs or while tired. To protect yourself from accidents on the road:
- Always make sure your vehicle is in good condition.
- Avoid driving in bad weather.
- Don’t drive if you feel sleepy.
- Don’t text, talk on your cellphone or engage in other distracting behaviors while driving.
- Don’t drive if you have been drinking or using drugs.
- Be aware of other drivers. Watch out for anyone driving aggressively, weaving or breaking traffic laws.
Already Been in an Accident?
If you have already been involved in a traffic accident in Worcester County, contact Peter Ventura, Attorney at Law, for a free consultation.
Image via Flickr by Destination Worcester
